Last month Cam had the opportunity to model for our dear friend and editor Katie Holdefehr of Real Simple Magazine. A incredibly talented artist, stylist and crafter, Katie created the ideas for the Halloween costumes featured in their story on Literary Inspired Halloween Costumes . Below, a DIY costume for one of our favorite characters…..the mouse from If You Give A Mouse A Cookie by Laura Numerof!

Shake up your breakfast and try out these oatmeal recipes. I’m always looking for ways to add a new twist to an old staple. Plain oatmeal, while packed with nutrients, can become monotonous in the breakfast routine. The three recipes below are easy ways to add an extra layer of nutrition and vitamins to your family’s meals without sucking too much time out of already busy mornings.

Not only are they healthy and delicious, they all take under 10 minutes….breakfast in a flash. Go, Superstar!

Simmer, puree, and serve! I make this fresh, creamy soup at least once a month. It’s quick (under 30 minutes!) and like all my recipes, freezes well for future meals and packs well into thermos lunches for the week. Multifunctional meals to the rescue!

Oh, how I love the trends. All the new pant shapes. The off-the-shoulder styles. Thigh boots and bra tops.

Recently, I’ve been building a much simpler wardrobe. I never thought I’d benefit from those “How to Build a Classic Wardrobe” stories…but here I am in my old-age trying to figure out how to simplify things a bit. I spent 12 years working full-time in the magazine industry. Now that I own my own business and work from home, my fashion needs have shifted completely. But my mindset hasn’t! I still find myself buying pieces that fit my old life. The impractical heels that I used to leave under my desk. Shirts with cutouts. Mini skirts. Anything embellished with sequins, glitter, gold foil or that bears the label “Dry Clean Only.”

I need versatile pieces that can take me through the many facets of my busiest days. This comfy outfit took me from a morning assembly at my daughters school to a local coffee shop for work, then lunch with friends. The sweatshirt, by Zanerobe, is from the mens section of Nordstrom 🙂 I love oversized pieces. They’re perfect for layering and pair well everything from simple leggings to a flirty spring skirt!

Some of my favorite fun sweatshirts are featured in the gallery below. Enjoy!

Love,The Lawrences

Black, white and grey create the perfect palette for a simple wardrobe.Stick to simple clean lines for a versatile, classic style.These loafers help me get from point A to B with ease until I slip into my pumps!

My summer wardrobe is so much fun. It’s colorful and bright…..a huge departure from my typical black, white, grey palettes. I love prints and patterns! The brighter and busier the better.

Welcome to summer in NY. It’s ridiculously hot for 3 straight months and I don’t even want to talk about the subway. Unlike other cities where you commute in the comfort of your air-conditioned car, I spend a lot of time going back and forth to camp, meetings and work on the subway or by foot. This is total BS, but very common for us New Yorkers who insist on living in a city that lacks common amenities like driveways….I digress.

In an effort to keep my life and mornings simple, I’ve created a uniform that works for these sweltering sunny days. It’s the smock dress. Anything that’s light and loose is my best friend, and a bonus for the ability to keep me effortlessly chic and comfortable. I need one piece that gets the job done. The Pennie, by Smokks, is designed for exactly that. This lightweight dress can be worn 3 ways. The versatility of that is enough for me to buy one in each print! I can roll the sleeves up, leave them down, belt it or wear it loose. While I prefer a simple sandal or sneaker (which go so well with my bohemian city style) this particular evening a dinner party forced me to tottle around in the highest of stiletto sandals. Lucky for me, this dress goes with literally any type of shoe.

Scroll down for more photos on what has become a favorite summer staple and the behind the scenes blooper roll of our first shoot of the summer! Check out Smokks for all their beautiful styles and gorgeous, chic prints.

I’m currently trying to incorporate 2 tablespoons of coconut oil into my family’s diet each day.

This benefits of this miracle oil are endless. It raises your metabolism and is a superb energy source. Plus, its lauric acid content supports your immune system and helps your body fight off disease. It’s basically good for everything ,and if you’re looking for simple ways to stay healthy, this is an easy start.

Step up your brunch game with these soft fluffy waffles. Top with your favorite fruit, and don’t forget the coffee!

Strawberries and bananas are a great combo along. We also love chocolate syrup, strawberries and blueberries, caramelized bananas and blueberry syrup!
Leave a comment if you try it—let us know what you think!

I try to keep my fridge packed with healthy meals that freeze, reheat and travel well. Versatility is key for me when time is limited (which is always) so a great, healthy, veggie and protein packed quiche is a year round fridge staple.

There are less than 30 days left until summer is over, so make sure to take advantage of every second of these beautiful, long sunny days. We spend our weekends dining al fresco every chance we get. This is one of our favorite dates. Habana Outpost, on Fulton Avenue in Brooklyn is always a fun time. If you haven’t been, swing by for tacos and margaritas underneath their rainbow umbrellas and brightly colored benches. Their chicken fingers never disappoint for the kiddos and the live DJ keeps the mood fresh and fun.

When styled correctly, tulle can be so romantic and chic. Perfect for this beautiful day on Chicago’s southside, this tulle skirt by Pink Blush is definitely a new summer staple for me. It’s versatile enough to be styled with pumps and sneakers. It’s also strong enough to hold it’s shape and give just the right amount of playfulness for this windy city 🙂 I’ll definitely be returning to this trendy online boutique to check out the other colors. It also comes in black and pink!

During the school year I’m so diligent about hitting all the food groups. Slicing apples into oatmeal and sprinkling it with just the right amount of cinnamon. Omlettes with protein and spinach. Whole grain waffles with strawberries. I go hard.

There are a few wildcard months in New York where I’m clueless about how to dress….mostly during the transitional months. April and May are a toss up. Summer could creep in early, or winter could hang on. We never know. September and October could have us still rocking bare thighs or bundled in fur hoods.

It’s currently April and we’re dealing with the last bits of winter, while remaining optimistic about spring. What was snow for the past 3 months has turned to rain, but every once in a while the clouds part and we get a sunny day.

“It is critical right now that kids see reflections of themselves throughout their school experience. In the leaders, in the teachers, in the classrooms, in the curriculum, in the books. Not in a tokenized way, but in a real way that makes them feel included and valued and like they belong. I also think it is helpful to allow students to see windows into other worlds, communities and ways of life. It’s a balancing act of making sure that you give them enough to affirm themselves, but a window to what the rest of the world is like. Isn’t that what we’re supposed to be educating them for anyway?”

These books have been on our bookshelf since day one. Whether you’re a mom-to-be or are looking for the perfect gifts for your favorite mom friends. This list won’t disappoint! Diversity matters, and these have been some of our favorites since my daughter was just a baby. Check out the Amazon list at the end for links to buy these and more of our favorites!